CHAPTER 364: WORRIES AND PROMISES

"You guys don’t need to keep us company. You guys are supposed to be having a good time right now." Andrew finally said, knowing that most of them were here mostly for him. He felt bad for holding them all hostage in this tiny space. Especially the people who were supposed to be the reason everyone came tonight.

Luis and Thomas didn’t bat an eye at Andrew’s words, and Maxwell’s grip tightened around him, holding him possessively.

"Andy, you don’t-" It was Maria who was speaking up first, and Andrew shook his head.

"I’m fine. Really. I’m shocked, as anyone would be, but I’m okay. I’ll feel better knowing that you were able to have a fun time at the party after that nightmare interaction." Andrew told them, looking around the crowd. "It’s supposed to be a fun time. I don’t want that bastard to take that away too." That part seemed to strike a chord, and everyone waiting with him shifted.

Luis and Thomas didn’t look like they wanted to be the first to leave, but knew that they had to. As the hosts, they needed to go back out, but it was clear that they were torn. Andrew appreciated that level of care, but he was also feeling a little smothered.

He just wanted Maxwell right now.

He just didn’t want to be a dick about it.

"We’ll head out first. Let us know if you need anything, Andy." Luis said, a firm hand on his shoulder, a gentle squeeze before both of them left. It continued like that, Mr. Dalton and his wife leaving next, and slowly everyone drained out of the room.

Except Amir’s grandparents. They remained seated even when May and Ford had left. Both looked calm, quiet, but Andrew could tell that there was a storm brewing beneath their skin.

"Andy, Maxy," he started, his hand clenched on his husbands, his other hand holding onto a small hand purse. "I think you should beef up your security for the time being. I don’t want to scare you, but I do think it is something you should consider. Do I think they would snatch you? Yes. Do I think they would spy on you? Yes. I just want you to be safe. I didn’t want to say this while the others were around." Amir’s grandmother was stoic, his expression purposefully flat and Andrew nodded.

"I understand." It was Maxwell who spoke though. Speaking for both men. Maxwell knew his father would be excited for this. They had gotten rid of the security team when they had moved into the gated community. Now he was going to have to speak to the security that they had through the community and keep them in the loop.

Andrew hoped that didn’t add too much to his plate. He was already so busy.

"Do you want me to speak to the security people about it?" Andrew asked Maxwell softly, and the smaller man tightened his grip on him.

"You hush. I have this. It’s barely a concern. You know that many of the other people living in the same complex have their own, so it should be easy. Plus, Kim and Jenny would also throw a tantrum if we were denied." Andrew couldn’t argue with that.

They would absolutely do that for Andrew’s sake.

"Was that all you wanted to discuss?" Andrew asked softly, turning to look at them. He was partially wrapped up and in Maxwell’s lap, his nose not straying too far from the man’s throat. It was an awkward hold, but it brought him comfort. Maxwell was holding onto him so tightly that it was clear the other man didn’t want to let him go.

Amir’s grandfather smiled, staring at the two of them.

"Hmm. Just to tell you, Andrew, that you are nothing like him. A reminder. That’s all. We hope that you two have a wonderful rest of the party, and I expect that while Amir wasn’t here during this moment, he is probably going to demand to see you two. Don’t get up to any funny business while no one else is here." He warned with a wink and Maxwell let out a chuckle.

"I know better than to pounce him right now. Too many people can hear, and I know my sweet Andy doesn’t like that." Andrew felt his face warm. He wasn’t fond of others hearing him or Maxwell, and Amir’s grandparents grinned as Andrew flushed.

"Hmm. Quite cute of him." They got up, coming over to place their hands on his back, to gently stroke his hair, pushing it out of the way in a loving, older family member way. Amir’s grandmother bent, pressing a kiss to Andrew’s forehead. Something that they hadn’t done before, but then again, Andrew towered over them normally.

"We’ll all fight. They can’t win against us all, let alone that Dalton fellow. He screams rich, and I’m sure Kim has something under her belt. She doesn’t strike me as someone who sat back and did nothing over the years. You’re safe now, Andy." He told Andrew with a warmth that made Andrew’s eyes water.

He knew that. He did, but it just hit differently when someone outside of Maxwell said it. Especially someone like Amir’s grandparents, who were quiet when they needed to be. They were just proving that they were adopting Andrew, subtly, but with intent.

"I...thank you." Andrew muttered finally, his emotions choking him, and they bent and gave him a hug each before leaving.

Then it was just him and Maxwell. Alone at last.

They didn’t say anything, but shifted their positions. Andrew sat back on the couch and Maxwell didn’t hesitate. He crawled into Andrew’s lap, straddling his legs as he opened his jacket and wrapped his arms around Andrew’s neck. Andrew slid his hands up the back of his vest, pressing him against him as the two men sat there, holding each other and inhaling their scents.

"It was scary. Seeing him here. I was so fucking worried for you." Maxwell admitted softly after a long pause. Andrew twitched slightly.

"Why?" Andrew asked carefully and Maxwell exhaled slowly.

"You’ve been doing so well, Andy. So damn well. I worried immediately that he would set you back. There is still a possibility that he could do that. I hate that he could do that to you. I was worried he was going to make your emotions spiral, thus all of your control." Maxwell hesitated. "I also worried that he would...push back your desire to get married too. Or throw all of the hard work we’ve put in to make you rethink your trauma around kids." Andrew froze, still holding the other man as Maxwell told him his worries.

All of it were valid worries, and that was what worried him.

Maxwell was being open with him, telling him his concerns, and Andrew’s gut twisted that they weren’t falsehoods. That they weren’t things that he could just brush off as silly worries of an omega who was just coming into his own.

No. They were the worries of a man who knew him. Who cared about him, and a part of him broke. Just shattered.

Andrew tightened his grip on Maxwell as his tears soaked into the dark, whimsical fabric he was wearing.

"I’m sorry you had to worry about that." Andrew’s voice cracked. "I’m sorry that you know me so well." Andrew told him and Maxwell froze.

"I wasn’t telling you this so that you would get worked up like this." Maxwell told him. "Baby. I didn’t want to make you cry." Maxwell whispered, his voice rough. "Please. Don’t cry. I didn’t want you to." Andrew shook his head, holding onto him tightly.

"Just let me. Please. This was a lot, and it feels like a gut punch to hear it so candidly. Especially after seeing him for the first time in decades." Andrew admitted. "It hits harder because they are valid fears. You aren’t being silly or over worrying, and that part hurts me more. I’m sorry that I make you have so many doubts. That you’ve been dealing with all of this." Andrew told him. Maxwell pulled away, his expression distraught.

"This wasn’t the reaction that I wanted. I was just telling you things. I didn’t want you to get upset." Maxwell was horrified with what he’d done but Andrew wasn’t going to let him be. He extracted one of his hands to grab Maxwell’s, pressing his open palm against his lips, pressing a kiss there that had Maxwell staring at him, staring into his eyes in shock and worry.

"It’s okay. I want you to tell me things. It just hit hard because of everything else going on right now. Don’t stop telling me things. Please. I don’t want you to." Andrew begged and Maxwell swallowed thickly. He stared at Andrew, at his tears, the way his hand was still possessively holding him, the amber sheen to his eyes as he stared at Maxwell with love and affection and desperation, and sighed.

He leaned in, pressing his lips against Andrew’s forehead, cheeks, eyes, his tongue darting out to lick up a few of his tears.

"I won’t then, but you can’t cry like this every time. You’re going to give me a heartache. It’s probably as bad as a heart attack." Maxwell warned and Andrew nodded as the man gently intertwined their hands, pulling them away from Andrew’s lips so that he could press his lips there.

It was a soft kiss, a reminder of the love they shared, and Andrew just let it wash over him. It was soft, sweet, and Andrew exhaled into the kiss softly.

Maxwell was watching him, not closing his eyes as Andrew luxuriated in the feeling of the other man’s lips against his own.

"You’re mine, Andrew Knox. I’m sure your Mom would forgive me if I made you Andrew Beckett." A shiver down his spine at the simple declaration, at the soft words against his lips, and Andrew felt his butterflies in his gut.

"She didn’t have a strong attachment to last names. She just didn’t want to be tied to him." Andrew told Maxwell and Maxwell chuckled.

"We’ll have to move up our visit then. How does new years sound? Shall we go visit your Mom then, and I can tell her all of the embarrassing stories of what you’ve been up to?" Maxwell teased, rocking his hips slightly. It wasn’t a sexual act, more that he was trying to get closer to Andrew as their rising and falling chests put some distance between them naturally.

"She’d love that, even if I hate it." Andrew told him, staring up at the man who was holding him together. "I wouldn’t survive you leaving me." Andrew admitted softly and Maxwell froze, before he softened to mush.

"Oh Baby, there is no way I ever would. If someone told you that, give me their name. I’ll deal with them." Maxwell whispered against his lips and Andrew let the man kiss him, squeezing their joint hands like a lifeline.